Chuck loading mechanism



June 7, 1932. l C. C, STEVENS I 1,862,042

CHUCK LOADING MECHANISM June 7, 1932. c c. STEVENS l i .CHUCK LOAD'INGMECHANISM Filed March 279, 1929 Z SheetS-Sheet 2 June 7, 1932. Q C*STEVE-NIS 1,862,042

CHUCK LOADING' MECHANI SM Filed March 29, 1929 5.5heets-'Sheet 5Patented June 7, 1932 UNHTE CLARENCE C. STEVENS, or BRISTOL,CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To THR New nn- I'ARTURE MANUFACTURING CoI/IrANY,on BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- TIION OF CONNECTICUT Application ledMarch 29,

ll`his invention relates to chuck loading mechanism and comprisesallthefeatures of novelty herein disclosed. An object of the invention isto provide improved mechanism for automatically transferring articlesfrom a source of supply t0 a chuck and removing the articles from thechuck. Another Object is to provide a fluid operated chuck loadingmechanism of simple and compact form for application to machine tools,such as grinding machines. To these ends and to improve generally and in`detail upon mechanism of this character7 the invention further consistsin the various matters hereinafter disclosed and claimed. 'p 'l ln itsbroader aspects, the invention is not necessarily limited to thespecific embodiment selecte-d for illustration in the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation with some parts brokenaway or in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section.

Fig. 8 is a front view of a portion of the chute and its support.`

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the escapement mechanism and associatedparts.

Fig. 5 is a rear View of the strippers.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the loading arm. y

Fig. 7 is a side view of a shaft and iits operating vane.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a ratchet wheel and cam.

F ig. 9 is a perspective view of a stop carrying lever. l f

Figs. 10 to 127 inclusive, are perspective views of cylinder details.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the mechanism in its operative relation to thework head of an internal grinding machine.

First stating the functions generally, articles such as rings lorsleeves to be internally ground are fed into an inclined chute ormagazine provided with escapementmechanism which places the piecessuccessively in a position to be transferred from the end of the chuteto a chuck'or work holder. The transfer is effected by a swinging armVoperated by Huid pressure in timed relation to the opening and closingof the chuck clamping 1929. Serial No. 351,087.`

jaws. The swinging arm` actuates the escapement mechanism, preferably onalternate oscillations, the

of the chuck and directing it to a receptacle. The numeral 10 indicatesan inclined chute having a top wall 12, bottom wall14, and rear Yclosure plate 16. The chute has a lug 185 (Fig.

intermediate oscillating movement then taking the finished piece outV 3)with a slot 2O by meansfof whicha clamp- :1f

ing bolt 22adjustably secures .the chute to a standard- 24.' Thestandard is threaded and bracket28. Alnut 30 threaded on thestandent-ersasmooth opening `in.a post 26 on a ard and resting on the postv servesto varythe Y height of the chute and its inclination so that thearticles A. will 'roll or otherwise move down the chute by gravity. Thebracket has an arm 82 (Fig. 1) to which a web `34 at the bend of thechute is adjustably secured by a bolt 36V passing through a slot, 38.`At the l lower end of the chute is a locating plate 4() of U-shapewithdiverging arms 42 which support the article which is to be transferredto the chuck. The arms are engaged by -a'djusting screw bolts 44threaded in the chute wall and locked by nuts 46.

The escapement mechanism 1s contained in a housing 47 (Figs. 1 and 4)near the lower end of the chute at thefront. All articles in the chute,except theorie about to be trans.-

ferred, are retained temporarily-by a pinv 48 on a forkedand slottedplunger 50 which slides in the housing. A pin 52 extends through the`slots of the forked plunger and pivotally connects thev plungerpto thelower end ofV axrocking lever 54 which is secured byV a set screw torock shaft 56 which is journalled in cheeks 58 of the housing. The upperend of the rocking lever engages the head of a plunger or pin 60 whichis pressed in one direction by a coiled spring 62V Acover comprisingside plates 64 and a connecting l front plate 66 is secured by screws 67to the housing. A trip arm 68 issecured tothe rock shaft 56 by va setscrew and carries van abut- 60a horizontal opening120. Bolt holes 122the article next above. Then, as the loading arm is advanced toy carrythe released article to the chuck, the spring 62 retractsthe upper pinand advances the lower one to hold the remaining articles.

An article carrier having a work centering ypart is attached to the endof the arm 74 by a screw 78 and dowel pins 79. It comprises a flatattaching portion 80 and an enlarged portion having a flange 82, agroove 84 and a nose piece or plug 86 which freely enters .thev boreofan article properly located on the springarms 42. The enlarged portionhas a series. of longitudinal slots, each receiving a leaf spring 88which is fastened by al screw 90. The'ends of the springs enter the bore"of an article with the nose piecev or plug 86 but will' exert a littleoutwardV pressure suflicient to enable the carrier to pick up an articleout of the chuck if the chuck clamping jaws are relased. Whentransferring an article from the chute to the chuck, the carrieriiange82 engages the article and forces it past a pair of gates orstrippers in the form of spring hinges, these members acting on aretracting stroke of the carrier to strip` a finished article therefrom.`On the rear of the chute Vcover plate 16 is attached a plate 92 havingya pintle 94 for a stripper plate 96,

' a coil spring 98 acting to hold the plate in strippingposition. Theplate 96 has an arcuate edge 100 large enough to let the flange 82 passbut small enough to engage the end of a finished article and strip itfrom the nosepiece ,or plug 86. A similar lower spring stripper plate102 has a'pintle 104 on an at-y taching plate 106 secured under the vendof the chute by screwv ybolts 108 which alsofasten Vthe locating plate40 above mentioned. The

motor and other mechanism for oscillating the loading arm through angleswhich are alternately different in amplitude will next be described. s Yl Y Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 10,11 and 12, a casting having averticalattaching web 110 is bolted to the bracket arm 32 has a sectoralflange112 which forms the head or top of an operating cylinder ofsectoral form. The casting 'has abored boss 114, a vertical angular web116with a vertical hole 118 and f provide means for securing the head1127to Vals a rear cylinder member 124 having side walls 126 and 128which diverge at an anglegreater than 900. The side walls having tappedvopenings 130 and 132 to receive fluid supply and exhaust pipes (notshown) which furnish motive fluid. The other head or bottom of thecylinder is formed by a sectoral plate 134 having a hollow boss 136 inline with the bored boss 114. An arcuate plate 138 bolted Vjectsupwardly through .the latter. The shaft has a keyway 146 and a reducedcylindrical `stud 148 with a threaded projection 150.

The hub 152 (Fig. 6) of the oscillating loading arm 74 has a keyway 154and an opening 156 for a set screw by which the arm is secured to theshaft. The arm also has openings 158 and 160, the former receiving apivot stud 162 (Fig. 2) for a pawl 164 and the other receiving a stud166 for a spring 168 which enters a groove in the pawl. VThe springpresses the pawl into engagement with ya small ratchet wheel 170 (Fig.8) which turns on the studA 148, the wheel having teeth 172 and openings174 which register with openings in a cam 176. The openings provide forrivets which securethe cam to the ratchet wheel. y j

The cam 176 has arcuate portions and two opposite high spots- 178 whichalternately provide rigid stops as will appear. A washer 182 is clampedragainst the shoulder aiforded by the stud 148 by a nut 184 threaded onthe projection 150, the ratchet wheel and cam being free to turn inunison. A bar 186 has a stud portion 188 clamped by a'sct screw in thehole 118 of the angular verticalrweb 116A and a vertical post 190 whichis tapped at the end. A thick'lever 192 having a thinner hub 193 ispivoted on the post and supports a latch dog 194 also pivoted on thepost and retained by a screw 196. The latch dog engages the ratchetwheel and locks it in advanced position, being pressed to latchingposition by a spring V198 secured by a screw 200 to a wall of the lever.The lei-er has a vertical hole 262 for a stud 204 on which a cam roll206 is journalled. The lever 192 also has a. horizontal tapped hole 208for an abutment screw 210 having a nut 212 to lock it in adjustedposition. The screw abuts against a head 214 on a pin 216 which isslidable in the opening 120 at the top of the web 116. The end of the4pin 216 is in abutting relation toa lug- 218 on the loading Yarm 74 butmay or `may-not limit the any suitable fluid operated clamping jawsopening and closing in timed relation to the actuating piston or vane ofthe oscillating arm. The illustrated chuck comprises a ri gid cone orouter section 224 and an inner section 226 which is Vslotted at aplurality of points to form yielding jaws. The inner and outer chucksections having cooperating bevelled faces at 228 so that axial movementof the inner section will cause its expansion or contraction withrespect to the articlel A. A gauge plug 230 is slidably mounted in. thechuck to engagethe article and a diamond 232 is mounted adjacent to thechuck to dress the reciprocating grinding wheel G. The swinging movementof the loading arm around its axis at the front of the machine enablesit to clear the diamond and the sectoral shape of the fluid motorrenders it compact so not to unduly obstruct the front of the machine.

In Fig. 2, the mechanism occupies the position it assumes after it hasreturned from transferring an article from the chute to the chuck forgrinding. One of the high spots on the cam 176 has swung the lever 192around its stud 196 to bring the abutment screw 210against the head ofpin 216 and has slid the pin into the path of the lug 218 to form arigid stop. Consequently, the loading arm 74 cannot be swung furtherback to the broken line position which the motor urges it to do and theescapement mechanism cannot be actuated. When the article is ground, theloading arm and empty carrier advance to pick up the article asindicated in Fig.` 13. The ratchet wheel and cam are turned by the pawlto -bring a low spot on the cam opposite the roller 204. Then, when theloading arm swings back with the finished article, the article isstripped off the carrier and the arm is free to have an angularretracting movement of greater amplitude, carrying it through the chute,thereby actuating the escapement mechanism and putting a new piece inloading position in the chute. v*The loading arm then immediatelyadvances `to transfer the new piece to the chuck and simultaneouslyturns the cam to bring the next high spot against the roller and solimiting the return of the arm again, The cycle is thus repeated. Thestripping oscillation of the arm is not essential to the invention initsbroader aspects because the grinding machine may have an independentlyoperable ejector and so the loading arm would then desirably operate theescapement mechanism on every oscillation.

I claim:

1. In a machine having a work head with a chuck for clamping awork-piece, a chute for receiving a series of work-pieces and feedingthem by gravity, a Vloading arm having a work carrier entering thechute, escapement mechanism actuated by abnormal movement of the loadingarm for delivering Aworkpieces successively into the path of theworkcarrier, a cylinder and vane for moving the loading arm, and .means forlimiting the movement ofthe arm by the vane on alternate actuations ofthe arm; substantiallyas described. c t u 2. Ina machine having'aworkhead'with a chuck for clamping a work-piece, a chute for receiving aseries of work-pieces and feeding them by gravity, a loading arm havinga work carrier entering the chute, esca-pement mechanism actuated byabnormal movement of the loading arm for delivering. work-piecessuccessively intoV the path of the work carrier,

a cylinder and Vvane for moving the loadingV arm, and mechanismforlimiting themovement of the arm by the vane onalternate actuations ofthe arm, said mechanism comprising a rotary cam, and a pawl'and ratchetfor turning the cam; substantially as described. Y A 'i i 3. In amachine having aV work head with a chuck for clamping a work-piece, achute for receiving a series of work-pieces and feeding them by gravity,a loading arm having a work carrier entering the chute, escapementmechanism actuated by abnormal movement of the loading armfordeliveringwork-pieces Vsuccessively into the path of-the ,workcarrier,

a cylinder and vane formoving theloading arm, and mechanism for limitingthe movement of the varm bythe vane on ralterna-te actuationsof the arm,said mechanism com'- prising a rotary cam, a pawl and ratchet for tturning thecam,and a lever operated'by the cam; substantially asdescribed. (t.V In a machine having a work headwith a chuckforvcl'amping a work-piece, a chute for receiving work-pieces and havinga'slot, a work carrier movable through'the slot in the chute to enter awork-piece and having a flange to force the work-piece from the chute,

and a spring pressed gate yieldably resisting the passage of thework-piece in one direction 1x and positively opposing its return to thechute in the other direction; substantially asdescribed.` j s 5. In amachine having a work'head `with archuck for clamping awork-piece, achute for receiving work-pieces and havinga slot,

a work carrier movable through the slot'in the chute to enter awork-piece, a device for locating awork-piece in the chute in alignmentwith the work carrier, means forsuccessivelyfeeding work pieces to thelocating device, and means for moving the carrier to transfer thework-piecesl from thechute to the chuck; substantially as described. j6. In a machine having a work head with a chuckl for clamping awork-piece, a chute for receiving work-pieces and having a'slot, a workcarrier movable through:` the s lot in the `chute to enter a work-piece,a plate having yieldable arms for supportinga workpiece in the chute inalignment with the Work carrier, means for successively feedingworkpieces onto said arms-and means for moving thecarrier to transferthework-pieces from the chute to the chuck; substantially as described.V Yl 7 In a machine having a work head with a chuck for clamping aWork-piece, a chute for receiving work-pieces and having' aA slot, awork carrier movable through the slot in the chute to enter awork-piece, a plate having yieldable arms for supporting awork-piece inthe chute, means foradjusting said yieldchute to enter a work-piecev atthe end of the as described.

l0. In a chuck loading mechanism, a loadchute,'1neans atthe end of thechute to locate a work-piece in alignment with the work carrier, andmeans for moving the carrier to transferV the Awork-piece.from the chuteto thc chuck; substantially as described.

' 9. In a machine `having a 'workhead with a 'chuck for clamping awork-piece, an inclinedv chute'for receiving work-pieces and having arslot, a work car ier movable through the slot in the chute to enter awork-piece, a swinging arm for moving tne carrier, mechanism on thechute for successively feeding Work-pieces into Valignment with thecarrier and comprising a rock shaft, and a trip arm secured to the rockshaft and engaged and operated by the swinging arm; substantially ingarm, meansfor swinging the arm, a rotatable cam having high and lowspots, means for turning the cam, and a lever actuated by thecamfordecreasing the swinging movement of the arm on alternate actuations;substantially as described.

11. In a chuck loading mechanism, a loading arm, means for swinging thearm, a rotatable camvhaving high and low spots in alternation, and meansoperated by the swinging arm for turning the cam to decrease vtheswinging movement of the arm on alternate. swingings; substantially asdescribed.

12. InY a' chuck loading mechanism, a loading arm, means for swingingthe arm, a pawl carried byy the arm, a rotatable ratchet wheel, a camonth-e wheel, a lever having a roller engagable Ywith the cam, a latchcarried by the lever for locking the wheel inadvanced position, andanabutment on the lever for llimiting movement of the arm; substantiallyas described.

13. In a chuck loading mechanism, a loading arm having a. plug to entera .hollow Work-piece, a flange on the plug for forcing the work-piecetowards the chuck, and springs for holding 'the work-piece on the plugto facilitate vremoval of the work-piece from the chuck ,substantiallyas described.

lll. In a chuck loading mechanism, a chuck, a chute for a series ofwork-pieces, a work carrier having a work centering part with a seriesof slots, springs in the slots and yieldably holding a work-piece on thecarrier,

means for reciprocating the carrier between the outlet end of the chuteand the chuck, and the carrier having an abutment engaging one end ofthe work-piece for forcing the l work-piece axially towards the chuckand holding the piece during a work-gripping action of the chuck;substantially as described.

15. In a chuck loading and` unloading mechanism, a chuck, a work carrierhaving a work centering part, springs for yieldingly holding awork-piece on the carrier, a chute for a series of work-pieces, meansfor reciprocating the carrier between the outlet end of the chute andthe chuck, a spring pressed gate interposed in the path of a Work-pieceon thev carrier and yieldable in one direction, the carrier having anabutment engaging one end of the work-piece for forcing the work-piecethrough the gate towards the chuck, and the gate being unyieldable inthe opposite direction to remove a work-piece from the carrier;substantially vas described.

16. In a machine having a work head with a chuck for clamping awork-piece, a chute for receiving work-pieces and having an outlet, awork carrier, means for reciprocating the carrier between the outlet andthe chuck, the carrier having an abutment to engage the end of a.work-piece and remove it from the chute, and a spring pressed gateyieldable in the direction of movement ofthe workpiece to the chuck andunyieldable in the' direction of return to the chute; substantially asdescribed. y

17. In a chuck loading mechanism, a chuck, a chute for a series ofwork-piecesand having an outlet, a work carrier and a movable supporttherefor, means for reciprocating the support to move the work carrierto and fro f ing the support to move the work carrier to and fro betweenthe chuck and the outlet, escapement mechanism for controlling thearrest and the advance of work-pieces along the chute to the outlet, anescapement actuating member in the path of the movable support foroperation thereby, and means for limiting the stroke of the carrier onalternate reciprocations to prevent operation of the escapementmechanism; substantially as described.

19. In a chuck loading mechanism, a chuck, a chute for a series'ofwork-pieces and having an outlet, a work carrier, means forreciprocating the work carrier to'and ro between the chuck and theoutlet, escapement Y mechanismfor controlling the advance of work-piecesalong the chute to the outlet, means for causing the stroke of thecarrier to be amplied on alternate reciprocations to eii'ect operationof the escapement mecha-- nisln, and means for causing the removal of awork-piece from the chuck and carrier on one of said amplified strokes;substantially as described.

20. In a chuck loading mechanism, a chuck, a chute for a series ofwork-pieces and having an outlet, a support havinga work carrier movableto and fro between the outlet and the chuck, escapement mechanism forcontrolling the advance of work-pieces along the chute successively intothe path of the work carrier, an esc-apement actuating member mounted onthe chute in the path of the support for actuation thereby, and fluidpressure means for reciprocating the support; substantially asdescribed.

2l. In a machine having a workhead withy a chuck, a chute for a seriesof work-pieces and having an outlet, a swinging arm having a workcarrier movable to and fro between the outlet and the chuck, escapementmechanism for controlling the advance of work-pieces along the chutesuccessively into the path of the work carrier, a cylinder of sectorform mounted adjacent to theV work head, and a vane in the cylinder forswinging the arm; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature.

CLARENCE C. STEVENS.

